Well that didn't last long, did it? Three months since my last entry isn't as regular as I'd intended but at least it's consistant with my previous efforts to keep a journal.

Well, what's happened in the last few months?

My second year of university has faded away rather more quickly than the first and I've worked on a couple of short films since, the last finished shooting (on set, at least) yesterday and now I'm free until October to work on Gnomon; see! I haven't forgotten about it and I'm fairly confident that my skill with a pencil is now at the level where I can recreate the images in my head (fingers crossed, spin around three times, and all that jazz).

Anyway, I've been planning Gnomon for nearly two years now and (having found an early synopsis I wrote) the plot and characters have evolved quite drastically in places. The main story-arc is relatively unchanged however the subplots and character-arcs have some major changes (some reverting to the original version of the script).

One of the elements that has changed the dynamic of the story is that, instaed of running away from something, the main character is now the pursuer (who is also being pursued). The other main change is the romantic subplot is now much more apparent than in earlier drafts.

And now I want to start drawing again so I'll abruptly finish here.

It's been over a month since my last journal entry and it occured to me another was due.
The last month has been pretty hectic, what with various essays, presentations and whatnot. Only one more assignment to go and my second year of university will be at an end.
Hopefully that will give me some time to get back on track with gnomon, which has gone through various rewrites since january but has been somewhat lacking in updates. Since it never really got off the ground, drawing wise, and since I was never quite happy with the style the first few pages were drawn in, I'll be starting afresh. That should give me the chance to start the story in a less contrived way than I had started last year.
Besides some fairly major plot changes I've been reworking the character designs and am hoping to get the entire first episode penciled by Mid-Late August with a coloured page a week from then on.
I'll have to write a schedule to force me to work (without a schedule I'm a serial procrastinator; with one I'm very nearly efficient) a set amount a day and that should provide a small set of material for when I get back to Uni in September where I will (without any doubt) get behind again (It looks to be a very busy year).
I'll be dividing the story into episodes (as oppose to chapters); the first season lasting approximately 12 episodes and the first 2 seasons already plotted (parts more detailed than others).
I'm aware that I've been rambling for a while so now I shall put us both out of our despair and stop.

Filming is now over and muscles I didn't know I had are still aching. It was a good experience if not actually 'fun' in the conventional sense of the word. The sets, when lit, looked rather good (If I do say so myself) and everyone I talked to felt like an old friend.

The most exciting part of the week, despite all of this, was learning that my class will be going to the Royal College of Art in London next week to attend a discussion with production designer Ken Adam, perhaps the most famous living production designer in the world (for those unaware, he designed the majority of the early Bond films amongst others).

Let the hero worship start here.



Now that filming is over I'm in a bit of a rush to get a presentation finished (but first started) on William Pereira and specifically the Transamerica Pyramid by this friday, and all of my construction drawings and concept artwork (and storyboard, proplist, virtual and physical models... arrgghh!) for next friday (whilst losing two days with the London trip). Knowing this Vista has apparently decided not to let my autoCAD package work for more than five minutes before crashing.

I also have to make sure I don't get sidetracked by the next assignment (a dream come true) realising Philip Reeve's 'Mortal Engines'. The book was my suggestion and that it was chosen has made me very happy as it was on my shortlist for designing as my major project next year (coming second to Tad Williams' 'War of the Flowers'.

Somehow I'll find a way.

Now back to the hero worship, occassional panic and not enough sleep.

Two days until we start filming on Lovectomy, a short film I'm art directing, and the sleep ends here. It's been a busy last few weeks (and months), so much so that I've yet to start the construction drawings of my uni assignment (to be handed-in in 2 weeks) and haven't even been able to think about updating Gnomon.

Yesterday we went to the prop store and somehow managed not to go too overboard (do you think we can use a giant lavatory?) despite the many weird wonders of the otherwise innocuous warehouse. At the moment it's a race against time to finish off the props I'm making (among them a mechanical heart and surgeons loupe) as well as the numerous posters and graphics that are used around the locations.

I think if I were not so resolutely laid back I may have started to panic by now. In my mind I've considered a few thousand things that could go majorly wrong and in most cases have an alternative. If all else fails we can always use a really soft focus .

While I'm not panicing, I am eager to wrap the project and get back to the much less intensive job of having to create a new (albeit fictional) architectural movement... maybe even get back on track with gnomon?..

And now, back to work.

A little late in the year but I have finally decided on a new year resolution which I will actually be happy to keep: to visit and comment on at least one new deviant's work a day... or, at the very least, seven a week... perhaps all on the same day, perhaps not - it'll keep things interesting.

I actually really enjoy looking at new artists' work and giving feedback (when wanted) and hope it is appreciated. I would have to admit that I certainly enjoy receiving critique on my gallery. And as much as I love hearing someone likes my work I find it much more - exciting perhaps?, when someone gives an honest appraisal and offers advice on improving.

Thats what I'll be aiming to achieve.




I guess I'll keep this journal going for now - keep it going 'till it comes to an end, then stop.

As a matter of record: I'm currently really ill and so take absolutely no responsibility for crimes against grammar.